Cushion-stop for hinged parts of type-writers.



N0. 788,759. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905. G. W. DONNING.

CUSHION STOP FOB. HINGED PARTS OF TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1904.

2 sums-slum 1.

No. 788,759. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905. G. W. DONNING.

CUSHION STOP FOR HINGED PARTS OF TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED IE'EB. e, 1904.

2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

Patented May 2, 1905.

CUSHIION-STOP FOR HINGIED PARTS OF" TYPE-"WRITERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,759, dated May 2, 1905. Application filed February 6, 1904. Serial No. 192,402.

To (tZZ whorl), it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, Guonen W. DoNNINe, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cushion-Stops for Hinged Parts of 'lype-Vriters; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a retarding or controlling and cushioning mechanism to be used with the hinged parts of a type-writing machine, the object being to prevent injury to the parts of the machine which n'iight accrue by reason of a too rapid movement of such hinged part, which may be due either to careless manipulation or the action of gravity thereon or to an automatic action of said part.

For the purpose-of clearly describing my invention and the particular benefits derived therefrom l have illustrated it in the principal figures of the accompanying drawings as applied to the hinged track-rails of a flatplaten commercial type-writer. 1 have also in additional figures illustrated my invention as applied to a hinged fiat platen, the latter being a part of acommercial type-writer, and also as applied to the platen-carriage of a round-platen ty iie-writer.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in full lines a side elevation of a hinged track-rail in normal position and supporting a writing-machine and having disposed at its rear end a counterbalance springarm and showing in dotted lines the rail as tilted and the position assumed by the springarms. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of a modified form of device and showing the rearwardly-extending portion of the track at one side of the machine and one of the spring-governed arms. Fig. 3 is a view illustrating my invention in a modified form. Fig. 4 shows a springarm as used in connection with the hinged fiat platen of the machine as above described, and Fig. 5 shows the device as applied to a round-platen typewriter.

Referring to the drawings, and iiarticularly Figsal and 2, A is a table, upon which is mounted in a horizontal position a platen or impression surface B, and over this is carried a writing mechanism C, adapted to move in two directions to provide for the usual letter and line spacing as the successive characters are impressed upon the paper or surface of the platen, and this writing mechanism is carried or slides upon a track-frame or track rails or guides D, preferably lying in the same plane as or parallel to but preferably independent of the platen. In certain instances it is desired to move or tilt the writing mechanism and its supporting track-frame from its normal position with reference to the platen, and to this end the track frame or rails D are hinged at a point n'eferably somewhat removed from the rear end to provide a rearward extension of said frame or rails, so that the writing mechanism may be pushed back thereon beyond the hinge (Z to position said writing mechanism so that its weight by being disposed to the rear of the hinge will tilt the frame or rails on the hinge or pivot automatically. Now unless checked in its movement the frame or rails would acquire a considerable speed of movement, so that if suddenly stopped it would jar and possibly injure the parts. To overcome and neutralize the effect of this over-balancing action of the machine, 1 have designed the sprlug-governed retarding-arms E, one for each rail or for each side of the track-frame, said arms being mounted on a shaft F, disposed in bearingf, secured to the rear portion of the table or desk A at a point below the track-hinges and being parallel to the axis of rotation of the track-frame. The free end of each of the arms E normally extends backward and upward and bears against the under side of the track-frame to the rear of the hinges thereof. A helical spring G is preferably wound upon the axial shaft F, extending between the arms E, one end of the spring being connected to the arm E, as at e, and the other end being made to bear against or is attached to the rear side of the table, so that the action of the spring will tend constantly and yieldingly to hold the free ends of the arm E against he under side of the track.

.It is to be understood that any other form i cam portion K, the object of which is to reof spring or tension device may be employed and that this may be disposed in different relative arrangement, if desired.

It will be readily understood that when the front portion of the track-frame is raised, as by the weight of the writing mechanism being disposed beyond the hinge (Z, its rear portion will move down and depress the arm E against the action of its spring G, so that the tension of the spring will be increased by being wound on its supporting-rod Furthermore, by reason of the centers of oscillation of the trackframe and arms E being eccentric (the arms lying below the frame) the relative lengths of the two between their contact and pivotal points will vary, so that as the front portion of the trackis raised the value or power of the spring will be increased and will, being properly proportioned, arrest the movement of the track and its superposed writing mechanism as the track swings around back of its pivotal bearing.

To counteract any sudden and violent upward movement of the track and to prevent injury to the mechanism due to a sudden stopping of the track at the limit of its movement, I provide the under surface of the track back of the hinge with a curved or hook-shaped boss J, forming a cam bearing-surface, so that when the arm has traversed its working path on the under face of the track and the track has reached its limit of tilting motion, the movement meanwhile having been retarded by the action of the spring, this bearing-surface by being curved will gradually arrest the movement of the hinged part.

I have illustrated in thedrawings the sp ringgoverned arm E as provided with an antifriction-roller I; but it will be readily understood that the roller may be dispensed with.

In Fig. 2 I have shown in front of the cam portion J a second and oppositely-disposed tard the downward or return movement of the track at or near the limit of its movement in that direction in like manner as heretofore described with regard to the upward tilting of the track, though in this case the cam-surface K is so formed and proportioned relative to the weight of the track and the writing mechanism traveling thereon that the springarm E will bring the track to rest just before it has reached its normal position parallel with the platen or writing surface. Then to bring the track into normal working position it will be necessary to force it down by hand against the action of the spring, and it is there held in its working position by means of a latch H, Fig. 1, disposed at the forward part of the frame, or the weight of the writing mechanism drawn forward of the hinge of the track may be utilized to maintain the same in operative positions. In this latter case it will be readily understood that should the machine be moved back or beyond the hinges of the track and the latch H released the spring-controlled arm E will act on the cam-surface to permit a slight tilting of the track, and it will then hold the track slightly elevated above the platen or other coacting part of the machine.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a modification of my device. In this form the cam-surface instead of being constituted on the track is formed upon the spring-actuated arm E, whose ends are provided with stops J K. In this case the antifriction-roller I is mounted upon the under side of the track instead of on the arm E itself and bears and rolls upon the cam-suface of the arm and causes the latter to turn upon its bearings. It is possible to so proportion the several parts that the action of gravity on the hinged parts will be so nearly counterbalanced in the several positions that the track if freed and started up will tend to move upward very slowly until it has reached its limit of movement.

In Fig. 4: I have illustrated my invention as applied to the hinged platen of a fiat-platen commercial book type-writer, wherein the platen B is hinged at I) b to the table or sup porting structure A to permit its upward movement therefrom, and an arm I) is made to extend rearwardly to carry on its under side the cam-surfaces J and K to bear upon and act with the spring-arm E to perform the same function as heretofore described in connection with the track-frame.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated my invention as applied to the hinged platen-carrying frame of a round-platen writing-machine, and in this case the rearwardly-extending arm, which carries the cam-suifaces J and K, is attached to the swinging frame of the carriage and presents cam-surfaces to the spring-actuated arm E, which in this instance is mounted on the moving frame A, which travels to carry the platen for letter-spacing.

In all the forms of my invention the principle is the same. RollerI of Figs. 1 to 3 or the free end of arm E in Figs. 4t and 5 constitutes a contact element which is adapted to engage with the incurved elements J K to arrest the movement of the hinged member without violent shock. Prior to such engagement spring G actuates the end of arm E to bear slidably against the under surface of the hinged member or against a part secured thereto, thus retarding the downward movement of the rear portion of the hinged member and contributing to the cushioning effect. The slidable connection of arm E with the hinged member at one side of the pivot of the latter causes the stop borne by this arm to travel under the actuation of the hinged member in a curve convergent with the curve of the other stop. As the latter is mounted on the hinged member, it is obvious that both of the coacting stops are actuated by the same agency. This is of considerable importance, since it insures the engagement of the stops at the proper moment. The paths traveled by the stops are such that the outcurved side of the one is opposed to the incurved side of the other, and preferably the convergence of the curves is acute. Through this arrangement and by reason of the form of the incurved element the hinged member is brought to rest quickly, yet without much jar. In Figs. 1, 2, t, and 5 the incurved element travels in the outer curve, and at the moment of intersection of the curves it receives the contact element. In Fig. 3 it is the contact element that travels in the outer curve; but in either case the pivot of arm E sustains the entire force exerted by the hinged member not already taken up by spring G. In order that the contact element may be reliably guided to the incurved element, a trackway is provided leading to the latter, and upon this the contact element travels throughout the convergence of the curves. This trackway is represented by the portion of the under surface of the hinged member between roller 1 and incurved element J in Fig. 1, in Fig. 2 by the curved region of the hinged member between the two opposed incurved elements J K, by the similar region on arm E in Fig. 3, and by the portions between the incurved elements in Figs. 4C and 5.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising eoacting stops operable by the hinged member to describe converging curves prior to engagement with each other and arranged to engage positively at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being connected with the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto.

2. Ina type-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising eoacting stops operable by the hinged member prior to engagement with each other to describe converging curves having the outcurved side of one opposed to the incurved side of the other, said stops being arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves. one of the stops being connected with the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto.

3. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising coacting stops operable by the hinged member to describe converging curves prior to engagement with each other and arranged to engage positively at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto.

41. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising coacting stops constituting an incurved element anda contact clement operable by the hinged member to describe converging curves prior to engagement with each other and arranged to engage positively at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto.

5. In a type-writer, the combination With a hinged member, and an arm pivoted exterior thereto; of means for arresting the movement of the hinged member, comprising coacting stops operable by the hinged member to describe converging curves prior to engagement with each other and arranged to engage positively at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being carried by the arm.

6. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising coacting stops operable by the hinged member to describe converging curves prior to engagement with each other and arranged to engage positively at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto and in sliding contact therewith at one side of its pivot, whereby said step is actuated to describe a curve convergent with the curve of the first stop.

7. In a typewriter, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising coactingstops operable by the hinged member to describe converging curves prior to engagement with each other and arranged to engage positively at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto, and means for maintaining the lastnamed stop in sliding connection with the hinged member on one side of the pivot thereof, whereby said step is actuated to describe a curve convergent with the curve of the firstnamed stop.

8. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising coacting stops operable by the hinged member to describe converging curves prior to engagement with each other and arranged to engage positively at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto, and a spring operating to maintain the last-named stop in sliding connection with the hinged member on one side of the pivot thereof, whereby said step is actuated to describe a curve convergent with the curve of the first-named stop.

9. In atype-writer, tne combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising coacting stops operable to describe converging curves and arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto, and means for causing the second stop to retard the movement of the hinged member during the convergence of the curves.

10. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of a pivoted arm, a spring actuating the arm to retard the movement of the hinged member, and a stop with which the arm engages positively at the conclusion of such retardation to arrest the movement of the hinged member.

11. Inatype-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising a stop, and a pivoted arm constructed to retard the movement of the hinged member and arranged to engage positively with the stop and arrest the movement of the hinged member at the conclusion of such retardation.

12. In atype-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising coacting stops operable to describe converging curves and arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto, a trackway leading to one of the stops, and means for maintaining the other stop in contact with the trackway during the convergence of the curves.

13. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising coacting stops operable to describe converging curves and arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto, a trackway leading to one of the stops, and means for maintaining the other stop in contact with the trackway throughout the convergence of the curves.

14. v In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member, and an arm pivoted exterior thereto; of means for arresting the movement of thehinged member, comprising coacting stops operable to describe converging curves and arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being carried by the arm, a trackway leading to one of the stops, and means for maintaining the other stop in contact with such trackway during the con- Vergence of the curves.

15. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising coacting stops operable by the hinged member to describe converging curves and arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto, a trackway leading to one of the stops, and means for maintaining the other stop in contact with the trackway during the convergence of the curves.

16. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising coacting stops operable to describe converging curves anc arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto, a trackway leading to one of the stops, and a spring for maintaining the other stop in contact with the trackway during the convergence of the curves.

17. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member, and an arm pivoted exterior thereto; of means for arresting the movement of the hinged member, comprising coacting stops operable to describe converging curves and arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being carried by the arm, and a trackway leading to one of the stops, the arm being constructed to maintain the other stop in contact with the traclrway during the convergence of the curves.

18. In a type-writer, the combination with a I hinged member, and an arm pivoted exterior thereto; of means for arresting the movement of the hinged member, comprising coacting stops operable to describe converging curves and arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being carried by the arm, a trackway leading to one of the stops, and means for actuating the arm to maintain the other stop in contact with the trackway during the convergence of the curves.

19. In a type-writer, the combination with a substantially horizontal hinged member, and an arm pivoted below said member; of means for arresting the movement of the hinged member, comprising coacting stops operable to describe converging curves, and arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the under side of the hinged member and the other stop being carried by the arm, a trackway leading to one of the stops, and means tending to elevate the arm and maintain the other stop in contact with the traclrway during the intersection of the curves.

20. In a type-writer, the combination witha hinged member; of means for arresting the movement thereof, comprising coacting stops constituting an incurved element and a contactelement operable to describe converging curves and arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, one of the stops being mounted on the hinged member and the other stop being located exterior thereto, a trackway leading to the incurved element, and means for maintaining the contact element in contact with the track- Way during the convergence of the curves.

21. In a type-Writer, the combination with a hinged member, and an arm pivoted exterior thereto; of means for arresting the movement of the hinged member, comprising an incurved element and a contact element operable to describe converging curves and arranged to engage positively With each other at the intersection of such curves, the incurved element being mounted on the hinged member and the contact element being carried by the arm, a trackway on the hinged member leading to the incurved element, and means for maintaining the contact element, in contact with the trackway during the convergence ol the curves.

22. in a type-Writer, the combination with a hinged member, and an arm pivoted exterior thereto; of means for arresting the movement of the hinged member, comprising coacting stops carried by the hinged member and arm, the stops being operable to describe converging curves and arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, the arm being constructed to sustain the force exerted by the hinged member.

23. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member, and an arm located exterior thereto; of means for arresting the movement of the hinged member, comprising coacting stops carried by the hinged member and arm,

the stops being operable to describe converging curves and arranged to engage positively with each other at the intersection of such curves, and a pivot for the arm arranged at the moment of engagement of the stops to sustain the force exerted by the hinged member. 24:. in a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member, of a plurality of stop members, one connected with the hinged member and the other located exterior thereto, said stop members constituting two opposed incurved camways and a contact element operating between the camways, the contact element being adapted to describe a curve convergent alternately with the curves described by the camways, and being further adapted to engage with one or other of the camways and arrest the movement of the hinged member.

25. In a type-writer, the combination with a hinged member, of a plurality of stop mem bers comprising two camways and a contact element operating between the camways, one of the stop members being connected with the hinged member and actuated thereby to describe a curve, and the other stop member being located exterior to the hinged member in frictional and yielding engagement with the hinged member at one side of the pivot thereof, whereby the contact element is actuated to describe a curve convergent with the curve of one or other of the camways during the mgvement of the hinged member in either direction, the contact element being adapted to engage with one of the camways and arrest the movement of the hinged member.

26. In a type-writer, the combination with the hinged track-frame thereof, of a plurality of coactingstops operable to describe converging curves, one of the stops being mounted on the track-frame, and the other stop being located below the track-frame and being adapted to engage with the first stop and sustain the weight of the traclr frame, thereby arresting the movement thereof.

27. In a flat-platen writing-machine and in combination with a hinged part thereof and superposed mechanism, spring-contro1led counterbalance-arms pivoted eccentric to the pivot of the hinged part and constructed to resist and counteract the weight of the said part and SLlpOl'DOSGCl mechanism.

28. In a writing-machine and in combination with a hinged track-Frame thereof, an arm pivoted eccentric to the pivot of the said track and spring-actuated to bear up under the rearwardly-extending portion of the track to counteract the momentum and gravitation of said track when the latter is raised from its normal position.

29. .In a typewriter, the combination with a tiltable hinged member constructed to sustain the writing mechanism, and arranged to be raised when the writing mechanism is disposed to one side of the pivot of the member; of means for opposing the movement of the hinged member during the raising thereof.

30. In a type-writer, the combination with a tiltable hinged member constructed to sustain the writing mechanism and arranged to be raised when the writing mechanism is disposed to one side of the pivot of the member; of means for yieldingly opposing the movement of the hinged member during the raising thereof.

31. In a type-writer, the combination with a tiltable member pivoted intermediate its ends and constructed to sustain the Writing mechanism on either side of its pivot, the portion of the member on one side of the pivot being adapted to be raised when the writing mechanism is disposed to the other side of the pivot; of means for yieldingly opposing the movement of the hinged member (.luring the raising of such portion.

32. In a type-writer, the combination with a tiltable hinged member having a portion on one side of its pivot constructed to sustain the writing mechanism during writing, such portion being adapted to be raised when the writ- IIO I ing mechanism is disposed to the other side of. the pivot; of means for yieldingly opposing the movement of the member during such raising.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W. ,DONNING.

Witnesses:

ANDREW W. STEIGER, J OHN R. WILTSIE. 

